Cape Verdean artist June Freedom returns to Portugal with new work and promises of live shows in 2027
The musician currently reaches 808,821 monthly listeners on Spotify, making him the most-streamed Cape Verdean artist on the platform. His catalogue has already surpassed 233 million plays, with the track "YSL" alone accumulating more than 80 million streams. Yet his foundation lies not in digital metrics but in a family restaurant on the island of Fogo, where between the ages of 10 and 15 he sang live with bands every weekend.
His mother has run the Tropical Club for 26 years. "All my choices for a beat, a theme or how to sing in a sound come from the mornas and coladeiras from my mother's restaurant," June Freedom told news agency Lusa. He describes that period as the "foundation" of a style that now mixes Cape Verdean traditions with American influences.
Roots split between the United States and Cabo Verde
Born in the United States to a Cape Verdean family, June Freedom grew up between both countries. "Being Cape Verdean is being a little bit of everything," he says. "It's a mestiço that belongs to the world." That multicultural identity appears in his choice to sing in Cape Verdean Creole, English, Portuguese and Spanish — a versatility shaped during his formative years on Fogo.
The singer, whose real name is Pedro Paulo, adopted his stage name as a statement. "June" comes from "Júnior", the name he has been called since childhood as the son of Pedro. "Freedom" emerged from a conversation with a cousin, who told him he seemed freer when holding a guitar. The concept has since deepened: "Freedom for me is really making music," he says, adding that he sometimes feels "mentally imprisoned" by current global events.
Now 38 and based in Los Angeles for over a decade, he observes that technology and social media have created new forms of anxiety compared to his adolescence, when digital platforms did not yet dominate daily life.
Ildo Lobo as a childhood inspiration
His first musical idol was Cape Verdean singer Ildo Lobo, whom he met when the artist performed near his mother's restaurant. June Freedom became so devoted that he wore the same beret and sang Lobo's songs. "I became, like, obsessed, I wanted to sing like him, dress like him," he recalls. At 12, he represented Cabo Verde at events in Fátima and Ourém in Portugal — an experience he considers decisive for the start of his career. Years later, already living in the United States, he opened Lobo's final concerts in that country.
New single with Eva Ruiz and plans to return to Portugal
June Freedom recently released "Dance Again", a collaboration with Spanish singer Eva Ruiz, from the Canary Islands. The two artists connected through their shared island experiences. He rejects the idea of composing according to formulas designed for specific markets, arguing that songs should emerge from genuine experiences and stories.
He maintains a regular connection to Portugal and will return soon to work on new projects. He has already promised to take the stage again in the country during 2027. Among the collaborations currently in preparation are new songs with Nelson Freitas and Dino D'Santiago, while Mayra Andrade, Tito Paris, and the Portuguese rapper Slow J are artists he hopes to work with in the future.
"Nu Bai" — a Creole expression meaning "let's go" — has become his life motto, reinforced during the last football World Cup. "When I saw Cabo Verde playing against Spain, everyone was 'Nu Bai', it was let's go, let's go with everything," says June Freedom, who attended the national team's matches in person. The phrase encapsulates what he calls a kind of afrobeat that merges Cape Verdean identity, music and a sense of belonging to a community spread across the world.
His most recent album, "Casa Mira Mar", was released in July 2025.
